Food was and is my passion. When I took cooking lessons for a few years, I learned the tools and the techniques, the ingredients and the insights. I had a whole new terminology: saute, ganache, roux, poach, caramelize.

When I revamped my grocery list for only real food, I learned about high fructose corn syrup, organic processes, genetically modified organisms, hormones and more. I talked with others about what they would and would not eat, defining requirements on distance, cost, treatment, ethics and other factors.

Pursuing Project Bulk has expanded my vocabulary again. I can speak with a little more credibility about exercise and muscle growth than I could 2 months ago.

My new friend Andrea and I had coffee this morning, talking about my workouts and hers. (Her husband sent her a link to my site, which led to our get-to-know-you rendezvous at the coffeehouse.)

Our discussion wandered over different diets, supplements, exercises, equipment, gardening and other health odds and ends. I mentioned that I found it encouraging to see more people take an interest in what they eat and how they move, especially given our society’s slide toward obesity.

I see friends posting about their CrossFit and boot camp sessions, or showing off their latest runs, including length, time and route. I hear them talk about eating paleo, or low carb, or gluten free. She has, too, running into spin classmates at the market, ready to talk core and endurance.

The best part is that these are all potentially steps in the right direction. Their goal may be to lose pounds or tone their bodies or remove toxins or simply be more active. If what they do gets them there, more power to ’em.

Learning and speaking the language opens doors to shared experiences. I can empathize somewhat better with those who count calories. I can cheer them on and offer my stories.